What are the laws concerning dating between a 22 year old and a 16 year old?

Full Question:

Answer:

The following is an Indiana statute:

IC 35-42-4-9 (a) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who, with....

(a) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who, with a child atleast fourteen (14) years of age but less than sixteen (16) years of age,performs or submits to sexual intercourse or deviate sexual conduct commitssexual misconduct with a minor, a Class C felony. However, the offense is:

(1) a Class B felony if it is committed by a person at least twenty-one(21) years of age; and

(2) a Class A felony if it is committed by using or threatening the useof deadly force, if it is committed while armed with a deadly weapon, if itresults in serious bodily injury, or if the commission of the offense isfacilitated by furnishing the victim, without the victim's knowledge, witha drug (as defined in IC 16-42-19-2(1)) or a controlled substance (asdefined in IC 35-48-1-9) or knowing that the victim was furnished with thedrug or controlled substance without the victim's knowledge.

(b) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who, with a child atleast fourteen (14) years of age but less than sixteen (16) years of age,performs or submits to any fondling or touching, of either the child or theolder person, with intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires ofeither the child or the older person, commits sexual misconduct with aminor, a Class D felony. However, the offense is:

(1) a Class C felony if it is committed by a person at least twenty-one(21) years of age; and

(2) a Class B felony if it is committed by using or threatening the useof deadly force, while armed with a deadly weapon, or if the commission ofthe offense is facilitated by furnishing the victim, without the victim'sknowledge, with a drug (as defined in IC 16-42-19-2(1)) or a controlledsubstance (as defined in IC 35-48-1-9) or knowing that the victim wasfurnished with the drug or controlled substance without the victim'sknowledge.

(c) It is a defense that the accused person reasonably believed that thechild was at least sixteen (16) years of age at the time of the conduct.However, this subsection does not apply to an offense described insubsection (a)(2) or (b)(2).

(d) It is a defense that the child is or has ever been married. However,this subsection does not apply to an offense described in subsection (a)(2)or (b)(2).

(e) It is a defense to a prosecution under this section if all thefollowing apply:

(1) The person is not more than four (4) years older than the victim.

(2) The relationship between the person and the victim was a datingrelationship or an ongoing personal relationship. The term "ongoingpersonal relationship" does not include a family relationship.

(3) The crime:

(A) was not committed by a person who is at least twenty-one (21) yearsof age;

(B) was not committed by using or threatening the use of deadly force;

(C) was not committed while armed with a deadly weapon;

(D) did not result in serious bodily injury;

(E) was not facilitated by furnishing the victim, without the victim'sknowledge, with a drug (as defined in IC 16-42-19-2(1)) or a controlledsubstance (as defined in IC 35-48-1-9) or knowing that the victim wasfurnished with the drug or controlled substance without the victim'sknowledge; and

(F) was not committed by a person having a position of authority orsubstantial influence over the victim.

(4) The person has not committed another sex offense (as defined inIC 11-8-8-5.2) (including a delinquent act that would be a sex offense ifcommitted by an adult) against any other person.